95-year-old woman walks 20 km to get anti-rabies injection in Odisha amid transport strike
Nuapada: In a heartbreaking ordeal caused by the ongoing statewide drivers’ strike in Odisha, a 95-year-old woman was left with no choice but to walk nearly 20 km—10 km each way—to receive her final dose of an anti-rabies injection.
Mangalbari Mahara, a nonagenarian resident of Sikabahal village in Sinapali block of Nuapada district, had been undergoing treatment following a dog bite. With no transportation available due to the protest, she and her son Gurudev Mahara had no option but to walk to the Sinapali community health centre, as reported by The New Indian Express on Friday.
Despite her age and frail health, Mangalbari managed the journey on foot with the help of a walking stick and her son’s support. After receiving the injection, the duo walked back to their village.
“I came to know about the incident from news reports. The association, which has called the strike is responsible for such a situation. Moreover, the family could have borrowed a vehicle from someone and taken the woman for vaccination,” TNIE quoted Sinapali BDO Karmi Oram as saying.
However, the drivers' association denied responsibility, stating that essential services had not been disrupted during the protest. According to the association’s district president, Durga Charan Bishi, neither the affected family nor the local administration had informed them about the situation. He maintained that had they been notified, necessary assistance would have been provided.
Bishi also emphasised that ensuring medical access in such scenarios was the administration’s duty, adding that blaming the association was “not justified.”
While several locals later questioned why an ambulance service wasn’t used, Gurudev explained their lack of awareness. “We were unsure whether 108 ambulance could be called for vaccination. We could have borrowed a two-wheeler, but my mother would not have been able to sit on it. We could not find any other vehicle, so we had no choice but to walk,” TNIE quoted Gurudev as saying.
Meanwhile, the supply of essential goods, including fuel, continues to be disrupted across Odisha due to the ongoing strike by the Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangha, an association representing nearly four lakh drivers. Since Tuesday, drivers of private buses, trucks, taxis, and other commercial vehicles have been off the roads, pressing for a range of demands including the formation of a welfare fund, pension benefits after the age of 60, legal protection against public hostility, and designated parking areas with basic amenities every 100 km.
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Rickelton's ton in vain as SRH beat MI by 6 wickets
Mumbai (PTI): Ryan Rickelton's whirlwind unbeaten ton was overshadowed by Heinrich Klaasen's unbeaten 65 as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Mumbai Indians by six wickets in an IPL match here on Wednesday.
Chasing an imposing 244-run target, Travis Head (76 off 30) and Abhishek Sharma (45 off 24) shared 129 runs for the opening wicket to set the platform for SRH.
Klaasen (65 not out off 30 balls) then displayed his all-round hitting abilities to guide SRH home with the help of Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Salil Arora (30 not out off 10) in 18.4 overs.
Earlier, Rickelton's knock powered MI to 243 for five.
MI rode on a 93-run stand between Rickelton (123 not out off 55 balls) and Will Jacks (46 off 22) in 7.1 overs for the opening stand to power the side.
MI skipper Hardik Pandya scored a valuable 31 off 15 balls before being dismissed.
Praful Hinge (2/54), Eshan Malinga (1/29), Sakib Hasan (1/39) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/31) were the wicket-takers for SRH.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indian: 243 for 5 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 123 not out; Praful Hinge 2/54).
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 249 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Travis Head 76, Heinrich Klaasen 65 not out; AM Ghazanfar 2/51).
